Head of Corporate Operations

Job Summary:

We are looking for a hands-on and highly accountable Head of Corporate Operations to lead our core back-office functions: HR (labor, C&B, HR policy and evaluation), Accounting, and Legal.

This role is a key safeguard for the company, responsible for ensuring compliance, risk control, and operational stability while working closely with small but critical teams on a day-to-day basis. Although this position holds overall accountability as a functional head, it requires a practical, hands-on leadership style rather than a purely supervisory approach.

The Head of Corporate Operations works side by side with team members, stepping into operational matters when needed, and serves as a trusted escalation point for complex or sensitive issues. The role acts as a primary counterpart to Japan headquarters, balancing HQ alignment with local execution. This position reports directly to the CEO in Vietnam. However, due to the nature of the role, frequent collaboration and functional alignment with the Accounting and HR teams at Japan Headquarters are essential.

This position does not cover Talent Acquisition or Internal Communication execution.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Corporate Governance & Hands-on Leadership

• Hold overall accountability for corporate governance across HR, Accounting, and Legal functions.
• Lead small, specialized teams through close, hands-on engagement rather than top-down management.
• Act as the primary contact for corporate operations matters with Japan headquarters.
• Translate HQ policies into practical, compliant local operations in Vietnam.
• Stay closely involved in daily operational issues, stepping in directly when risks, exceptions, or complexities arise.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and manage operational and legal risks proactively.
• Must be willing and able to perform operational tasks independently (e.g., journal entry input, payroll calculation checks) to ensure business continuity during staff shortages or peak periods.

2.  HR and Accounting and Legal Operations

HR Operations (Labor, C&B, Policy & Evaluation): The focus of this role is HR governance and labor compliance, with active involvement in day-to-day HR operations.

• Work closely with HR operations members on payroll governance, statutory compliance, and C&B administration using "Base" (HR system).
• Design, operate, and continuously improve performance evaluation policies and processes.
• Actively support employee lifecycle operations (onboarding, offboarding, contract renewal) from a compliance and risk perspective.
• Monitor labor law changes and directly reflect them in HR rules, policies, and practices.
• Serve as a practical escalation point for labor-related issues, audits, inspections, and complex employee cases.
• Lead the creation, maintenance, and real-world application of HR policies (working hours, leave, disciplinary actions, etc.).
• Support and develop HR operations team members through day-to-day collaboration
• While HRBP and Talent Acquisition executions are not managed in this role, collaborate closely with the HRBP & TA teams to ensure a seamless transition from hiring to onboarding, employee relations, managing the entry procedures effectively ​​and ensuring good employee experiences.

Accounting & Financial Operations (Hands-on Oversight)

• Accounting & Financial Operations (Financial Control & Reporting) Focus on Financial Control and Accounting Operations, with the primary objective of ensuring accurate figures and timely reporting to HQ (Reporting & Compliance)
• Oversee accounting operations with a strong focus on accuracy, controls, and reliability using "Multibook" (Accounting system).
• Work hands-on with internal accounting staff and external BPO vendors during monthly and annual closing processes.
• Actively support issue resolution related to accounting treatments, reconciliations, and reporting gaps.
• Serve as a key liaison with Japan headquarters on accounting and reporting matters.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting while maintaining strong internal controls.
• Enable budgeting and planning processes by providing reliable data, without owning financial strategy or budget formulation.
• Monitor vendor performance and intervene directly when quality or timelines are at risk.

Legal: Take ownership of company-wide legal operations in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

• Supervising in-house legal staff and serving as the primary contact for external legal counsel.
• Overseeing contract management processes, including reviewing and archiving agreements.
• Monitoring regulatory updates and ensuring company practices remain legally sound.
• Supporting legal risk mitigation through proper documentation and cross-departmental coordination.
• Responding to internal inquiries and guiding teams in compliance with legal requirements and internal policies.

3. Process Improvement and Standardization

• Identify risks, inefficiencies, and control gaps by being close to actual operational workflows.
• Design and implement scalable yet practical back-office processes that teams can realistically follow.
• Improve operational clarity, transparency, and consistency without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Support the company’s growth by strengthening its operational foundation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10–15+ years of experience in corporate operations, back-office management, or governance-related roles.
• Solid hands-on experience with HR labor operations, accounting oversight, and legal coordination.
• Strong understanding of Vietnamese labor laws, accounting/tax regulations, and legal frameworks.
• Proven ability to act as a "Bridge" between Vietnam and Japan; not merely translating policies, but possessing the negotiation skills to explain Vietnamese regulations and business customs to Japan HQ to gain understanding and buy-in.
• Experience working in IT or software development companies, preferably in a growth or scale-up phase.
• Proven ability to work closely with small teams and external service providers.
• High level of accountability, attention to detail, and practical problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with Japan-based companies or cross-border organizations is strongly preferred.
• Fluent in Vietnamese and business-level English; Japanese proficiency is a strong advantage.

Key Attributes:

• Leads by example and is comfortable rolling up sleeves
• Strong sense of ownership and responsibility
• Calm, steady presence in complex or sensitive situations
• Pragmatic and detail-oriented, without being bureaucratic
• Trusted by both frontline staff and senior stakeholders